Video podcasts open up a whole new world of creative potential: you can show and tell. Whether you’re searching for the right podcast topic or you know exactly what you want to say, it’s important to decide what you want your video podcast to look like. You can use a tried-and-tested format or go for something experimental (more on these later).
Either way, settling on the right structure for your video podcast is important for a few reasons:
- It keeps your show consistent: Your audience knows what to expect with an established format.
- It streamlines your production process: Focusing on one format can save you time when it comes to recording, editing, and promoting episodes.
- It helps you play to your strengths as a creator: Whether you’re a talented interviewer or a hilarious solo speaker, the right format will let you shine.
Once you have a sense of the different directions a video podcast can take, you’ll be ready to make your own.
4 video podcast examples
In search of some inspiration? Let’s take a look at four video podcast examples from Spotify studios and break down the advantages and challenges of each approach.
1. Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (remote interview)
In a remote interview video podcast, the host(s) and guests are in different locations, but their video feeds are grouped into one screen during the episode. This is a great format if you plan to interview guests from around the country (or around the world) but don’t want to worry about travel logistics. Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, hosts of Higher Learning, often interview guests remotely to discuss Black culture, politics, and sports. Notice how they add their show title and guest names on the screen. This makes the episodes feel more like, well, episodes—rather than a conference call.
Advantages:
- Ability to interview guests from anywhere around the world without traveling. Pro tip: Spotify for Podcasters' integration with Riverside.fm lets you record and publish video podcasts with up to seven guests for free, with a quick distribution path to Spotify.
- A full studio isn’t necessary—you just need recording equipment and a sound-proof room
- Minimal editing since you don’t have to switch between camera angles, as you might in a traditional studio setting
Challenges:
- Technical difficulty with remote recording software is always a possibility, so make sure you’re confident with the tools you’re using and have a reliable internet connection
- The video quality of a webcam may not be as high as you can get from a traditional video camera
Quick tip: Add your podcast brand elements like your intro music, cover art, logos, and font in post-production to make your episodes visually engaging.
2. Call Her Daddy (in-studio interview)
For an in-studio interview, you invite guests onto your set and chat with them in person. This allows you to achieve the intimacy of a live conversation while also showcasing your personal brand through your studio’s aesthetic. In-studio interviews are ideal if you want to reference products like clothes or food during conversations with your guests. "Call Her Daddy" is a prime example of a successful in-person interview podcast. The host, Alex Cooper, keeps her show casual (she wears sweats and lounges on a couch), but her studio is visually appealing, and her conversations are poignant.
Advantages:
- Lets viewers observe body language and helps them feel like they’re part of the conversation—something that’s difficult to achieve with remote interviews
- Interviews tend to be more intimate when people are face to face, and that translates to more compelling content for your audience
Challenges:
- Booking guests to come into your studio can be a chore, so you’ll need to plan your content calendar at least a few weeks ahead
Quick tip: Use multiple cameras to keep viewers engaged throughout the episode—for example, alternate between a wide shot of the entire studio and close-ups of each speaker.
3. Off the Record (solo show)
A solo video podcast features one speaker on camera. Solo video podcasts can take several forms, such as a free-flowing monologue, scripted storytelling, tutorials, audience Q&A, and more.If you’re independent, ambitious, and have a lot of ideas to share, you have the potential to produce a solo show that fans love. Take "Off the Record," for example—DJ Akademiks can riff for an hour (sometimes longer) about music, entertainment, and pop culture all by himself, and his fans love the intimate connection.
Advantages:
- Easiest option in terms of setup: one camera, one mic, and a backdrop
- Great way to let your personality shine as a solo creator
- Full creative control over episode style and structure
- Avoids scheduling conflicts with co-hosts and guests
Challenges:
- Need to keep your body language and expressions animated throughout the entire video to keep viewers engaged
- Producing video episodes alone can be a lot of work, so you might need to get help
Quick tip: Write up a podcast script before recording your episodes. Whether it’s a rough outline or a word-for-word script, it will keep you on track and ensure you know exactly what you’ll cover during the episode.
4. No Rose, All Thorn (recaps and reactions)
This type of video podcast is perfect if you’re a superfan of a TV show, sports team, artist, or any other subset of pop culture. The concept is simple: you analyze recent events through your unique perspective with the hopes of entertaining people who share similar interests.For example, "No Rose, All Thorn" breaks down the highlights from the TV show ‘The Bachelorette.’ The episodes are relatively short (12–15 minutes) and full of hot takes to keep viewers entertained between episodes of the TV show. If you watch an episode, you’ll see how the show takes advantage of the video format with visuals in the backdrop and graphics to distinguish segments within the show. Also take note how they add the host’s and show’s social media handles at the end of the episode to invite fans to engage.
Advantages:
- Built-in audience for the subject matter you’re covering, whether it’s a TV show, genre of music, or sports team
- Great opportunity to establish yourself as an authority on a topic you’re passionate about
Challenges:
- Pop culture moves fast, so you have to react quickly to stay relevant
- Depending on your topic, there may be a lot of competition for your show
Quick tip: Embedding media (like screenshots) into your video podcast can make your show more engaging—but make sure you have permission to use these assets before publishing your episodes to avoid copyright issues.
5 video podcast ideas to inspire your show
The ability to add visuals to a podcast unlocks endless possibilities for your show. Here are five ideas we think could work especially well in a video format:
1. Video game video podcast
Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world and it’s also highly visual, which lends itself well to video podcasting. Whether you’re sharing video tutorials of a hot new game or showing off your skills, video podcasting is a great way to explore your passion.
2. Fashion or beauty video podcast
Got an eye for fashion? Video podcasting gives you an opportunity to turn your good taste into a great show. From makeup tutorials to trying on new clothes, there are all sorts of ways you can show and tell your audience what you’re into.
3. Arts and crafts video podcast
Whether you’re into sewing, painting, or woodworking, there are people out there who share the same interests as you. Video podcasts are a prime opportunity to make connections and put your art on display for the world to see. You can even use video podcasts to teach others about your hobby.
4. Food video podcast
It’s hard to ignore the appeal of delicious food—even if it’s on a screen. From restaurant reviews to at-home cooking lessons, opportunities abound for foodies who want to launch a video podcast.
5. Game show video podcast
Game shows were one of the earliest forms of TV entertainment—now everybody can tap into that genre with video podcasts. For example, you and some friends could start a trivia show for your favorite topic, like sports, movies, or music. You can take advantage of the video format and make graphics, transitions, title cards, and more for your episodes.
Play to your strengths
There’s a common thread through many popular video podcasts: the creators built a show around their strengths—whether that was their dynamic with a group of friends or passion for a certain subject matter. Just because your favorite podcast has three hosts and an epic studio doesn’t mean yours has to be the same. No matter what your strengths, interests, and skills are, you can make video podcasting work for you. Ready to get the cameras rolling? Head over to Spotify for Podcasters to make your must-watch video podcast.
